Method and mechanism for covering cloth boards, etc.



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. B. SMITH Filed Nov. 19, 1925 METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR COVERING ULOTH BOARDS, ETC

Jhne 7 1927.

ORNEY 1,631,940 H. B. SMITH METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR COVERING CLOTH BOARDS, ETC

June 7, 1927.

Filed Nov. 19, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,dl INVENTOR if my filly/77071 15/771777 June 7, 1921. 1,631,940

H. B. SMITH METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR COVERING CLOTH BOARDS, ETC

Filed NOV. 19, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES,

HARRY RIDGMAu sm'rmox NEW YORK, n. Y.

METHOD AND MiicnAmsm ro COVERING CLOTH BOARDS, ETC.

Application filed November 19, 1925. Serial 1T0 70,031.

My invention relates to methods and mechanisms for applying shefetmaterial, usually paper, to cloth boards or winders or similar or other articles or objects, in rapid and economical fashion. bon winders and analogous articles,- are usually oblong, fiat and relatively thin, and the invention is especially well adapted for covering such articles or objects, but is also available in connection with a great variety of articles or objects having flat sides and not particularly limited as y to thickness;

The general plan of operations includes advancing a continuous web of covering ma terial, adhesively conditioning it, applying it to one of a plurality of cloth boards or similar articles which are arranged with'fiat faces in a common plane, and movingthe cloth boards simultaneously in a generally rotary or circuitous path, during which movement additional cover material in continuous form is advanced from the supply source, usually a roll, and glued, andportions of the material arev applied to aligned taces'ot two or more of the cloth boards; the cover material is then severed intermediate adjacent boards and the freed margins are turned or pressed down tocover portions of the confronting sides of the articles, which in the case of cloth boards are relatively narrow edges. Ateach rotative movement and severing and pressing operation. the covering of at least one of the articles is completed and it is removed and another uncovered article. is located in its place and another rotative movement, cutting and pressing operationsare made, re-

sulting in covering substantially one-half of the article just located and the completion of ahother previously located article, and these operations are continued indefinitely, resulting in a very large output of accurately covered articles in a given time, with great economy because only practically unskilled labor is required. As to the machine or mechanism, it embodies in simple form in-v strun'lentalities for performing the statedopcrations, and while not necessarily entirely automatic it is largely so and may be rapidly operated by one practically unskilled at-.

fondant. The invention therefore, cone sidered from the apparatus standpoint, provides economy because of the simple nature.

and low cost of the machine, and the low labor cost ofits operation.

Cloth boards and ribwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a: machine embodyxng the invention in one form, from the rear, or side opposite the usual station of the operator.

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section from a right hand viewpoint of F 1, showing one operative position. r p

Fig. 3 is a detail section showing-another portion. I

Fig. 4is a. view similar to Fig. 2 showing another operative position. v

Fig. 5 isa horizontal section.

' 6 is a perspective View of a cloth board frame, as one example of an article to be covered. i

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a covered board. Fig. 6 shows a cloth board frame F as an example of articles to be covered. Such a frame is usually constructed of Wood includ inglongitudinal oredge pieces '1, end pieces 2 and one or more central braces or cross pieces 3, suitably dove-tailed. lued or otherwise connected together. The longitudinalouter edges 4 of the side pieces I, and the matching ends of the end pieces 2 are usually smoothly rounded, as shown. pro viding a substantially semi-cylindrical contour, although the edgeformation'may vary greatly without affecting the present method ormachine. Instead of these frames, any known type of cloth board or ribbon winder or analogous article may be handled, in-. cluding solid cloth boards of wood or fibrous sheet material, or hollow or cellular cloth boards including'corrugated core material. Practically any other articles of generally rectangular form and having fiat sides ma 6 be handled, and while the invention well adapted for handling articleswhich have sides or edges such as 4, which are relatively thin in relation to the broad sides of the articles, there is no definite limit as to the de th or thickness of the articles or ob'ects. he machine is built on or about a rame completed,

comprising a base having uprights 11. A rotary frame or article carrier A which may also be identified as a reel, is supported by the uprights. This frame comprises end members 12 having hubs 13, trunnions 14 rotatably mounted in bearings 15 in the frame uprights, and a connecting rod or shaft 16 which also serves as a cutting abutment, as later explained. In the present form the machine is arranged to handle two cloth board frames or similar articles simultaneously and for this purpose the reel end members 12 are provided with cooperating chucks, each of which includes two opposite jaws 18. These jaws are yieldingly supported on members 12 by studs 19 passing through holes in the frame members and carryinx stop nuts 20 to limit inward movement of the chuck aws under the im pulse of springs 21. Each chuck jaw comprises a vertical portion or flange 22 having a flat inner face, and a stop flange 23 at one end of the vertical flange. The upper edge of flange 22 is tapered or beveled as. at 24: to facilitate insertion of articles between the opposite chuck jaws. At the inner end of eachjaw the angular members 22 and 23 are connected by an inner stop flange or lug 25 which, in the present case, is curved to correspond to thecontour of the ends of the cloth board frame.

One of the trunnions 14: may be provided with a hand wheel for rotation of the reelA, and, of course, a motor drive may be provided when necessary or desirable. To conveniently check and hold the carrier in certain operative positions, suitable stop devices are provided consisting in the present example of balls located in sockets in one of the hubs 13, and pressed outwardly by springs 36 to' engage the inner face of a hub formation 37 on one of the frame uprights 11. At horizontally opposite points the inner face of the hub 37 is provided with sockets 38 to receive segments of the balls. Thus when the carrier or frame A is in a horizontal position either side up, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the balls engage in the sockets with sufficient firmness to hold the frame stationary while certain operations are performed, but are readily released and retreat into their sockets in hub 13 when the hand wheel 30 is turned to revolve the frame A. 7

Any suitable gluing mechanism G is lo cated at the rear of the machine. This comprises any know or suitable glue roll 40 over which the web TV of cover material is directed, for example, by a guide roll 41 fromany suitable source of supply, such as a roll of the material (not shown). From the glue roll 40 the glued web passes under a guide roll {i2 mounted between the up rights 11 andis applied to the articles in the carrier, as later described.

For severing and pressing or affixing portions of the cover paper, a cross bar is arranged to move vertically in guide slots 51 in the frame uprights 11. The cross bar is reciprocated in any convenient way. represented in the present case by rack bars 52 connected to outer ends of the cro s bar .30

and engaging gear segments 53 mounted on shafts 54. The shafts have arms connected by a link 56 to cause the gear segments to move in unison, and they are urged by a spring 57 stretched between them to maintain the cross bar 50 in upward position. Any suitable lever, represented by the pedal lever 60, convenient to the operator, is provided and connected to one of the shafts 54; by suitable linkage 61.

The cross bar 50 carries a cutting blade '70 having a diagonal edge 71 to provide a shearing cut, in co-operation with a slot 72 formed in the connecting bar 16 previously mentioned. Cover web retaining or holding bars 75 are yicldingly supported by stems 76 passing through bar 50, and having stop nuts 77 and springs 78 located about the stems. The cross bar 50 also carries stretching, smoothing or pressing bars or members 80 which may be blades or brushes, but in the present case are small rods forming parts of the spring arms 81 and spring coils 82 connected to the reciprocating bar 50.

At the beginning of operations the attendant places a frame F or other similar article between corresponding rhuck jaws 18 and turns the carrier A toa convenient position, such, for example, that the frame F is at the left in Fig.2. An end of the continuous web WV of cover material is then drawn from its roll and over the glue roll, and is applied in any convenient place to frame F. Since this first step is merely to obtain an initial attachment of the web, the particular way in which it is connected to the first frame is unimportant. Another frame or article is then inserted in the other pair of rhuck jaws and the carrier A is rotated one-half turn. As readily understood in Fig. 2, the cover web attached to the left hand frame F at any convenient point. is then draw]; under guide roll 4-2 and is applied to the broad fiat faces in one plane of the two cloth board frames, these faces being those which are lowermost in Fig. 2. and which assume a left-hand position when the aligned cloth boards become vertical. and then finally this web of cover material is stretched across the upper horizontal, fares of the two frames when they reach the position of Fig. 4; but prior to the depression of the cutting and pressing means, as indicated in Fig. 4, the web lying across the upper faces of the frames F and across the space between them, is continuous, as shown in Fig. 3. The car rier A is now retained by the stop balls or other means, while cross bar 50 is depressed Sil iii)

by pressure on pedal 6O.v As moves down the retaining bars 75 first strike the cover wveb and press it firmly on, the side members 1 of the frames F. In the further depression of cross bar 50, springs 78 are comexertpressure upon it, tending to stretch and smooth the web portions overlyingfithe broad board faces, the blade 70 passes into the slot 72 of bar 16 and scvers the cover web between. the two frames F, producing free or unattached flaps, which are coated with adhesive and ready for application to edge portions of the frame. The continued depression of bar 50 causes bars 80 to fold and press these flaps down over the rounded or other frame edges, covering substantially one-half the contours of these edges. Bar 50 is then withdrawn upward by release of the pedal, removing the cutting and pressing devices from the zone of movementof the frames F and carrier A. The stated operations effect the completion of the covering of the frame F which is at the righthand position in Fig. 4, as there shown, since the other broad face of the frame and onehalf of the inward edge contour had been covered in a previous operation when this frame was at the left-hand position, and the other rounded edge. was covered in the retary movement of the frame at about the position indicated at theleft in Fig. 4. This completed cloth board is then removed from the spring chuck jaws, another frame or similar article is inserted, the carrier A is rotated onehalf turn, the cutting and pressing devices are depressed and the operations are continued indefinitely.

Fig. 7 shows a completely covered cloth board B of the present type, in which the sheet S forming a severed portion of the continuous web W is smoothly wrapped and secured over the broad faces and rounded edge contours of the frame F, the severed edges of the sheet joining in the line 8 along one of the board edges.

While the machine constructed for semi-- automatic operation as described, requires a the services of one operator, such an operaing the articles together in a substantially sheet coveringmaterial to thearticles during such movement, and severing the web between adjacent articles.

2. A method of applying sheet surfacing material to articles, comprising supporting a plurality of'the articles at their ends, moving the articles together in a. substantially orbital path, applying a continuous web of sheet covering mate-rial adhesively to the articles during such movement, severing the Web between adjacent articles, and turning and securing the free sheet portions so proc duced against adjacent surfaces of the articles.

3. method of applying sheet surfacing material to articles,comprising supporting a plurality of the articles at their ends with Y similar faces in substantial alignment, moving the articles together about'a common axis, applying a continuous web of sheet covering material adhesively to aligned faces of the articles during such movement, apd severing the web between adjacent arti- 0 es.

4; Amethod of applying sheet surfacing material to articles, comprising supporting a. plurality of the articles at their ends with similar faces-in substantial alignment, movmg the articles together about a common axis, applying a continuous web of sheet covering material adhesively to aligned faces of the articles during such movement, and severing the web betweenadjacentarticles.

5. A method of covering substantially oblong articles having parallel broad fiat'faces' and relatively narrow edges, comprising supporting a plurality of sucharticles with their broad faces in common planes for simultaneous rotation with a continuous web of sheet covering material adhesively connectedto one of thearticles, applying con tinuous portions of the web to similar faces of a plurality of'the articles in successive partial rotations of the articles, severing the web between adjacent articles, and turning and securing free sheet portions so produced upon adjacent surfaces of the articles.

6. A method of covering substantially oblong articles having parallel broad flat faces and relatively narrow edges, comprising supporting a plurality of such articles with their broad faces in common planes for 'simultaneous rotation with a continuous webv of sheet covering material adhesively connected to one of the articles, applying continuousportions of the web to similar faces of a plurality of the articles in successive partial rotations of the articles, severing the web between adjacentarticlcs, and turning and securing freesheet portions m produced upon adjacent surfaces of the articles. while they are still supported in the stated relation. i I

7. A method "of covering substantially oborbital path, applying a continuous webof long'articles halving parallelbrciadflat faces and relatively narrow edges, comprising supporting a plurality of such articles with their broad faces in common planes for simultaneous rotation with a continuous web of sheet covering material adhesively connected to one of the articles, applying continuous portions of the web to similar faces of a plurality of the articles in successive partial rotations of the articles, severing the web between adjacent articles, turning and securing free sheet portions so produced upon adjacent surfaces of the articles while they are still supported in the stated relation, with the completion of covering of at least one article in each cycle, and removing one completed article and replacing it with another to be covered at the end of each cycle of operation.

8. A method of covering substantially oblong articles having parallel broad flat faces and relatively narrow edges, comprising supporting a plurality of such articles with their major or broad faces in common planes for sin'mltaneous rotation about. a common axis with a continuous web of sheet covering material adhesively connected to one of the articles, applying continuous portions of the web to similar faces of a plurality oi the articles in successive part partial rotations of the articles, severing the web between adjacent articles, and turning and securing free sheet portions produced upon adjacent edge surfaces of the articles.

9. A method of covering substantially oblong articles having'parallel broad flat faces and relatively narrow edges, comprising sup-- porting a. plurality of such articles with their major or broad faces in common planes for sinmltaneons rotation about a common axis with a continuous web of sheet covering material adhesively connected to one of the articles, applying continuous portions of the web to similar faces of a plurality of the articles in successive part partial rotations of the articles, severing the web between adjacent articles. and turning and securing free sheet portions produced upon adjacent edge surfaces of the articles while they are still supported in the stated relation.

10. A method of covering substantially oblong articles having parallel broad flat faces and relatively narrow edges, comprising supporting a plurality of such articles with their major or broad faces in common planes for simultaneous rotation about a common axis with a continuous web of sheet covering material adhesively connected to one of the articles, applying continuous portions of the web to similar faces of a plurality of the articles in successive part partial rotations of the articles, severing the. web between adjacent articles, turning and securing free sheet portions produced upon adjacent edge surfaces of the articles while they are still supported in the stated relation, with the completion of covering of at least one article in each cycle, and removing one completed article and replacing it with another to be covered at the end of each cycle of operations.

ll. It method of covering articles comprising supporting at least two oi the articles at their ends, and applying a continuous web ot sheet cover material to outward faces of the articles by sin'iultaneous movement thereo't in an orbital path, and severing the web between the articles.

12. A n'iethod of covering; articles comprising supporting at least two of the articles at their ends, and applying a continuous web oi sheet cover material to outward tacos oi the articles'by simultaneous movement thereof in a fixed circular path, and

severing the web between the articles.

lil. A method of covering articles, comprising supporting two articles at their emls, and. applying a continuous web of sheet rover materials to outward faces of the articl by rotative movement thereof, so that sul ant-ially one-half of each of the two articles covered simultaneously, and severing the web between the articles.

I l. A method of covering articles, comprising supporting two articles at their ends, and applying a continuous web of sheet cover materials to outward faces of the articles by rotative movement thereof. so that suostantially one-half of each of the two articles is covered simultaneously, severing the web between the articles, and removing a finished article and replacing it with an uncovered article in each cycle so that the halt-covering operations of each cycle provide the completion of one of the articles and the hal-t' completion of another.

15. Mechanism of the class described, comprising a revoluble article support, means thereon tor detachably holding a plurality of articles in aligned and spaced relation, cutting means arranged to sever a web between adjacent articles and to move out of the path oi rotation of the articles, and sheet turning and pressing means arranged to act on severed sheet portions and to move out of the path of rotation of the articles.

16. Mechanism of the class described. comprising a revoluble support, a plurality of sets of co-operating, quick-acting article holders on said support arranged to engage opposite ends of similar articles and support the articles in spaced and aligned relation, means for severing sheet material between adjacent articles, and means for turning and pressing free sheet portions thus produced on adjacent faces oi the articles.

17. Mechanism of the class described, comprising a revoluble article support, means thereon for detachably holding a plurality of articles in aligned and spaced relation, cutting means arranged to sever a web bemeans for adhesively coating one surface of,

the sheet or web and directing it to be applied to the articles in their rotation by the movement of saidsupport.

18. Mechanism of the class described, comprising a revoluble article support, a

lurality of sets of co-operating, quick acting article holders on said support arranged to engage opposite ends of similar articles and support the articles in spaced and aligned relation, means for severing sheet material between adjacent articles, means for produced on adjacentv faces of the articles, means for supporting a roll of sheet material, and means for adhesively coating one surface of the sheet or web and direct-ing it to be applied to the articles in their rotation by movement ofsaid support. 9

19. Mechanism of the class described com-' prising a frame, a revoluble article carrier therein, quick actin chucks in the carrier arranged toengage the ends of a plurality of similar articles and support them in symmetrical spaced relation, means-for supporting a roll of sheet material for a plication to the articles, means for adhesive y coating a surface of the continuous sheet, cutting means arranged to sever the continuous sheet applied to adjacent faces of different articles at an intermediate line between the articles, and means for turning and securing the free sheet flaps so produced upon adja cent surfaces of the respective articles.

20. Mechanism of the class described comprising a frame, a revoluble article carrier therein, quick acting chucks in the carrier arranged to'engage the ends of a plurality of similar articles and support them in symmetrical spaced relation, means for support, ing a roll of sheet material for application to the articles, means for adhesively coating a surface of the continuous sheet, cutting mean arran ed to sever the. continuous sheet applied to a jacent faces of different articles at an intermediate line between the articles, means for turning and securing the free sheet flaps so produced upon adjacent surfaces of the respective articles, and means for releasably locating the article carrier in a definite position for the action of the severing and turning and pressing means.

21. Mechanism of the class described com prising a frame, a revoluble article carrier therein, quick acting chucks 1n the carrier articles and support them in symmetrical arranged to engage the ends of a plurality of spaced relation, means for supporting a roll,

of sheet material for application to the ar-' ticles, means for adhesively coating a surtuning and pressing free sheet portions thus face of the continuous sheet, a support arranged to reciprocate in the frame above the artlcle carrier, a cutter and yieldable sheet engaging means thereon, and a, cutter positioned between articles located in the article support and co-operating with the cutter therein, quick acting chucks in the carrier arranged to engage the ends of a plurality ofarticles and support them in symmetrical spaced relation, means for supporting a roll of sheet material for application to the articles, means for adhesively coating a surface of the continuoussheet, a support arranged to reciprocate in the frame above the article carrier,a cutter and yieldable sheet engaging means thereon, yieldablesheet turning and pressing means also mounted, on said support, and a cutter p'ositionedlbetwee'n-articles located in the article support and co operating With the cutter first mentioned to sever a sheet between adjacent articles.-

Signed at New York city, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, this 17th day of Novbr. A. D1925. v

HARRY BRIDGMAN SMITH. 

